eyes.  There's a detectable scent of
liquor in the air, and her slurred
speech pins her as the source.
 
His FATHER is in his late 40's, a squat,
but solidly built black man, with a
cherubic face, and graceful expressive
hands.
 
He's upon her now, WHACKING! at her
horribly, trying to get to her face--
 
FATHER
You do what I say, do you hear
me?!  You've got to keep this
place clean!  You here, no
place else!
 
MOTHER
You're crazy!
 
WHACK!
 
MOTHER
Asshole!
 
WHACK!
 
MOTHER
Motherfucker!!!
 
The Father lunges, WHACKS! her across
the face.  She topples to the floor, a
lamp CRASHES to the ground.  Prince cuts
through the room, lunges desperately in
front of him--
 
PRINCE
(pleading)
Please, Dad...she's heard you.
She's had enough!
 
His Mother drags herself up along the
wall--
 
MOTHER
(hysterical)
He's  trying to kill me!  He's
crazy!  Look what he's doing
to me!
 
PRINCE
(tearfully)
Dad,  please ... she's--
 
WHACK!   Prince's head snaps back, his
feet lift from the floor, his body
CRASHES in a heap by the door...
 
Stunned SILENCE.  Prince, flat on his
back, fights vertigo with everything
he's got.  His Mother lets out a YELP,
rushes into the bedroom, SLAMS the door.
His Father stands motionless, sullen--
 
FATHER
Get up...you ain't hurt.
 
Prince opens his Mouth, BLOOD gushes
from a gash in his tongue.  He hoists
himself up slowly, using the wall for
support.  He moves into the kitchen,
disappears down the basement steps.
 
(22) BASEMENT -- HALLWAYS AND BEDROOM -- NIGHT
 
A naked LIGHT BULB snaps ON.  It dangles
like a pendulum, casting strange
shadows.  The basement is partitioned
off into a series of rooms,
interconnected by a labyrinthine
coimbination of passages.  An old washer
and dryer stand in the corner.
 
Prince descends the steps slowly.  He
comes through a door, closes it behind
him.  He moves down a narrow passageway,
enters a small cramped BEDROOM.
 
He closes the door and locks it behind
him.  MOONLIGHT filters in throuch the
cacement windows.  The total effect is
like entering a womb, a deep dark
chamber of security and safety.
 
Lying heavily onto his bed, he sighs
long and deep, his eyes piercing the
darkness...
 
FADE OUT:
 
FADE IN:
 
(23) INT.  CLUB  EARLY MORNING
 
MUSIC wafts through the sun-drenched
CLUB.   Jill is seated at the PIANO, 'a
la Marlene Dietrich, SINGING to her
heart's content.  A cigarette dangles
from her lip, a police cap is perched
jauntily on her head.  It's a simple bar
tune, delivered slightly off-key, but
with an openness that is endearing.
Chick is working in the corner,
chuckling to himself, stacking chairs,
sweeping up.
 
Suddenly she stops -- listens intently.
She jumps up, deliberately spills her
orange juice on the piano. Prince comes
around the corner, stops short--
 
PRINCE
(surprised)
What are you doing here?
 
She's a bundle of loose, embarrassing
ends -- the cigarette, hat,  juice--
 
JILL
What...what are you doing
here?
 
He feels caught out -- SCANS the BOARD
earnestly for Vanity's info   -- tries
to think of something to say--
 
PRINCE
Huh ... it's kind of dead in
here.  Where is  everybody?
 
JILL
In bed I guess...
(to herself)
Oh, God ...
(changes subject)
Guess what, I bought a dog.
 
PRINCE
That's nice...
(he spots vanity's card)
Ah, I guess I'll come back at
a better time.  You think
tonight the the place'll be
jumping?
 
JILL
Well, I'll be here -- I always
like what you do.
 
He smiles, moves to the door -- Jill
connects with a thought--
 
JILL
Wait! I've got something for
you.
 
PRINCE
What? A subpoena?
 
JILL
(embarrassed)
No...
 
She rumages through her bag, pulls out a
cassette--
 
JILL
It's a song Lisa and Wendy
wrote.
 
He stiffens, doesn't reach for it--
 
PRINCE
(suspicious)
Why didn't they give it to me
themselves?
 
JILL
Well, I liked it and wanted to
listen to it. They told me to
give it to you when I was
done.
 
He puts his sunglasses on, hesitates,
then takes it from her gingerly.  He
regards it for a long time--
 
PRINCE
You really liked it, huh?
 
 
(24) INT.  REHEARSAL HALL -- DAY
 
MUSIC throbs throuch the crammed,
rundown REHEARSAL HALL.  Hardwood
floors, a wall of mirrors, and a bank of
windows provides the setting.  SUNLIGHT
streams through tattered yellow shades.
 
The Time is set up on one side providing
the music for "Sex Shooter" a saucy
number with an irresistible beat.
 
Morris, with Jerome by his side, stands
in the middle of the floor, SHOUTS
instructions to...
 
...BRENDA and SUSAN, gamely trying some
intricate dance steps.  Brenda is 21
years old, blond, sexy, with an alluring
new-wave look.  Susan is 16 years old,
with dark, lustrous hair and a sexy baby-
doll quality. Right now they're tired as
hell, and a little angry--
 
MORRIS
One, two, three, kick!  One,
two, three, kick! Four,
five...Oh, Lord.  Cut! Cut!
 
The MUSIC stops, the girls come to a
halt -- Morris regards them evenly--
 
MORRIS
You ladies don't seem to
realize how valuable my time
is.  You're going to make my
boys look bad.
 
BRENDA
Why don't you let us come up
with our own steps?
 
Morris glares at her--
 
MORRIS
We tried that...
(sweetly)
... remember?
 
The Girls  fidget--
 
MORRIS
Now you're in the best
possible position you can be
in, so what' s the matter --
your shoes on too tight or
something?
(claps his hands)
Let's have some action, let's
have some asses wiggling, I
want some perfection. Whawhak!
 
The MUSIC starts up -- the Girls start
dancing.  Morris looks woefully to
Jerome---
 
MORRIS
I think I'm going to need a
drink, a strong drink.
(a beat)
Let's get the hell out of
here.
 
(25) EXT.  STREETS AND ALLEY -- DOWNTOWN -- DAY
 
Morris and Jerome move briskIy down the
sidewalk--
 
MORRIS
This just ain't happening. The
bitches are okay, but we need
something more exciting-
 
JEROME
You're right.  We could be
doing much better.  Any ideas?
 
MORRIS
That powder fine babe we saw
last night.
 
JEROME
Oooh, yeee! -- Why don't we
find out who she is?
 
Morris snaps an address in front of his
face--
 
MORRIS
I already know that.  Jill
gave me everything last night.
Whawhak!
 
JEROME
Then what are we waiting for?
Let's go!
 
MORRIS
No, no -- that ain't classy
enough.  I want the bitch to
come to me -- I'm the only
star in this town.
 
Suddenly  a BEAUTIFUL BABE lunges into
the sidewalk from the alley--
 
BABE
(yelling)
Morris Day, who do you think
you are?!  I waited up all
night for you.  I'm so tired
of you doing that  to me. You
think you're so hot?  You're
nothing special.  This is the
third time you pulled that
shit.  Who the fuck do you
think I am?!
 
MORRIS
Jerome!
 
Jerome puts the girl in a headlock,
DRAGS her into the alley--
 
BABE
(screaming)
Leave me alone you ape! --
What are you doing to me?!
Morris!!
 
He flings her into the dumpster, SLAMS
the lid with a CRASH.  Morris pats his
brow--
 
MORRIS
Lo-rd..!  Such nastiness.
(a beat)
Hee, hee -- Let's break.
 
They streak across the street, double-
time it to the CADDY.  A COP sweeps by,
gives them a curious look.  Morris puts
on a dignified air, then stops,
stupified--
 
MORRIS
Jerome, this car --
it's...it's lacking something.
What do you think?
 
JEROME
Hmm... I don't know...
 
MORRIS
I got it!  The hubcaps.  We
need something sweeter.
 
JEROME
I think I know what it needs.
 
Morris is pondering his Stacy Adams--
 
MORRIS
Yeah ... I know what these
need.
 
(26) INT.  SHOESHINE STAND -- DOWNTOWN -- DAY
 
Morris sits in the chair, his Stacy
Adams worked on by an old, grizzled
SHOESHINE BO